Taxi drivers are under pressure to meet a certain threshold to pay the medallion holder before they can net fares for themselves. This can encourage poor driving behavior such as speeding, running red lights, making unsafe lane changes, cutting off other motorists and calling dispatchers.
It is not uncommon for drivers to take drugs to stay awake or to drink and drive to stave off boredom. Fatigue is often a factor in taxis that rear-end other motorists, fail to stop at intersections or whose drivers fall asleep at the wheel.
There are other causes of accidents involving taxis. To make money, taxis have to be in continuous use and many are driven by different drivers during the course of a day or week. Many of these vehicles are poorly maintained with bald or underinflated tires or whose braking or steering mechanisms are not in good operating condition. The taxi companies that maintain these vehicles can be held liable for any accident that results from insufficient or faulty maintenance practices.
An experienced personal injury lawyer can request or subpoena and examine the maintenance records of a cab company regarding the vehicle’s maintenance history or the records of the dispatcher or cell phone of the driver if distracted driving is an issue. Of course, other factors that may have caused the accident will not be overlooked including defects in certain auto equipment installed in the vehicle or even roadway design defects.
Arizona law requires that all cabs carry at least $300,000 in auto liability coverage for injuries and property damage. If you were injured by the negligent conduct of a taxi driver or by the negligent practices of a cab company responsible for maintaining the vehicle, you may collect from their applicable policies. This includes taxi passengers as well as pedestrians.
